Ulugh Beg

Ulugh Beg gathered scholars like Al-Kashi and Qadi Zada al-Rumi at his court in Samarkand. He funded the study of mathematics, trigonometry, and astronomy, making Samarkand a leading scientific center of the 15th century.

Ulugh Beg built a large observatory in Samarkand, equipped with a 40-meter sextant. He used it to compile the Zij-i Sultani, a star catalog of over 1,000 stars, which was the most accurate in the world for 250 years.

Ulugh Beg published the Zij-i Sultani, a star catalog and astronomical tables. It corrected errors in Ptolemy's Almagest and provided accurate positions of stars and planets, influencing later astronomers like Copernicus and Tycho Brahe.

Upon the death of his father Shah Rukh, Ulugh Beg became the ruler of the Timurid Empire, based in Samarkand. His reign was short and marked by conflict with his nephew Abd al-Latif and other rivals.

Ulugh Beg was defeated in battle by his son Abd al-Latif, who had rebelled against him. He was captured and executed on Abd al-Latif's orders, ending his reign. His death marked the decline of the Timurid Empire.